Insomnia study

Do you find it difficult to get to sleep at night? Do you wake up too early, in the middle of the night or experience poor sleep quality? Are you always tired during the daytime? These are the exhausting symptoms of insomnia, which can affect not only sleep, but also your everyday life.

Sleep is fundamental for human health; however, insomnia symptoms are experienced by one third of Australians, having severe consequences on physical health, mental health, and daily performance. Insomnia is a multidimensional condition with consequences in daytime functioning, general wellbeing, disrupted mood and anxiety.

Our researchers at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University are looking for participants to volunteer for a study investigating the effectiveness of one of the best known Chinese herbal medicine treatments for insomnia. The treatment, called ZRAS, is composed of Spine Date Seed, Danshen Root and Chinese Magnoliavine Fruit, and has been widely use in hospitals and medical practices for over 30 years in China.

If you have experienced trouble sleeping you may be eligible to join the study.

Who can join?

Men and women aged over 18.

Experience difficulty sleeping at least three times a week and for at least three months.

Are willing to abstain from any other insomnia treatment for six weeks.

Are able to read and understand English.

Are not pregnant or breast-feeding.

What's involved?

After assessment, participants will be asked over the 9-week study to:

Attend three study visits to Western Sydney University campuses, at Westmead, Campbelltown, Parramatta or Bankstown NSW.

Participate in two phone interviews.

Take three capsules each evening for five weeks.

Record sleep performance every day for seven weeks.

Wear an actigraph (a wrist-worn bracelet that can detect activity) for seven weeks.